PENELOPE MINNER

Seneca, Turtle Clan

“I feel that I have been passed the torch as they say. I learned from my cousin, Midge Dean Stock, and it’s through her spirit that I continue this art. With the passing of Midge and Mary [Adams] as well as the loss of Kathy Mitchell, the skill and knowledge of traditional basket making is in danger of being forgotten in our local communities. The reward of finding a student who truly enjoys the art is immeasurable.”

 

Mastering this labor-intensive art demands a sustained commitment. For Minner—whose quest is to showcase the modest simplicity of a treasured family heirloom—knowledge, culture, and art are inseparable.

 

“I see it as a statement of ‘We are still here.’ We are thriving and growing despite all that has happened to our people.”